QB <r>Bottom line who starts at QB for the first game. . Unless he is injured before the Navy game it will be Golson. Take it to the bank. <E>8)</E></r>
Like I said above, as far as I'm concerned, whether Tommy Rees starts at QB or never plays another down or something in between is strictly the head coach's decision, and I support whatever he decides. Having said that, I'm going to stick a couple of pro-TR commentaries in the collective eye (or up a more posterior area) of the TR haters here (definition of "hater" = not showing a ND student-athlete the respect he deserves for his on-field effort). This is my one-man protest of what I described in an earlier post as the ugly side of the ND fan culture. If the shoe fits..................... It'll Be Tough to Keep Rees Off The Field Why Rees Will Surprise in 2012
Well I for one agree with the writer of the article who said that TR does not have a big time arm. This of course limits the offense and allows the defense to contract. All QBs throw interceptions but it takes a special QB to flat out drop the ball deep in the red zone. So like many ND fans I "hate" Kelly's decision to waste practice time and playing time on a QB who handstrings our offens. As for Rees personally, I could care less except that getting arrested and having to plead guilty is a blow to his teammates and ND fans. Both deserve more respect from TR.
I just want to win, if Tommy is that guy then fine. As far as I can tell he's a great kid (minus the bad decision to run and resist), but Golson was had the best HS career, and I like Hendrix size and arm strength. He reminds me a little of the Kansas State QB, maybe even a little of Tim Tebow. Gunner will have to wait. Unfortunately QB's at big time programs can get savaged by the fans, Tommy has been given that treatment and Garrett Gilbert who was a 5* QB coming out of HS, with size, a dad who was a pro, and strong arm. It didn't work out at Texas for whatever the reason but he was savaged by the Texas fans just like Tommy Rees. He couldn't take it and left.
Terry, I agree with your assessment. As usual you are the wise voice of reason. I don't have a problem with anyone who wants to see someone else at QB. I clearly see valid reasons for Golson, Hendrix, or even Kiel to be the starter. But that's not a reason to trash Rees or any ND student-athlete who has given his best effort every game. It's ugly and uncalled for. 'Nuff said. It's too bad about the Gilbert kid. Where did he transfer to?
Sid, he transfered to SMU and he took a very heavy load at Texas in the Spring so he could graduate and play this year.
Interesting. How long was he at Texas? He must have worked very hard to be eligible to graduate early. Sounds like he's a smart kid. I hope he does well at SMU.
He was an early entry in Jan 2009, was Colt's backup in that 2009 Nat'l Championship game that they lost to Alabama. Everybody though he would be great in 2010, he had a storied HS career won 2 or 3 State Championships. But 2010 was a disaster and he was awful, first losing season in awhile at Texas, then Mack made staff changes and brought in the Boise State OCoord and everybody thought he's make the difference but he got off to another bad start, got injured and decided to quit the team and have surgery. Some thought he was setting himself up for a Med redshirt year and that the surgery was so minor that it didn't need to be done in season. But as I said he got the same hate that Rees has gotten and he transfered. He was apparently a good student and took full loads and had already completed 3 years by the end of fall 2011, so he upped his load I heard he took 18 hours his last semester to get the hours necessary for his degree. I think most ND early entries are usually very close to graduation at the end of fall of their Jr year and can graduate in the Spring. Non early entries are almost always close by the end of the fall of their Sr. Year. They can get up to 12 hours of summer school. So EE semester -12 Freshman1 -12 Freshman 2 -12 Summer -12 Soph1-12 Soph2-12 Summer2-12 Jr1-12 Jr2-12 ______________ 108 hours...not quite enough for Grad, but if they'd had AP credits, and took 15 hours....you can see how it can work out.
Looks like Rees and Calabrese are on board: Rees and Calabrese Pledge Support Below is a link to the video of Carlo's interview, in which he makes the above comments (the video is not embeddable). I like him. He's a good-looking kid whose countenance exudes toughness. Carlo Interview Video
Here is an interesting article on Charlie Jr at KU. One thing I wonder about, is that they say he's like an Assoc Head Coach. Now technically he's just a student manager and I doubt there are any restrictions on SA's and their interaction with athletes in the off season or after practice, while there are restrictions on coaches. So what's to prevent Charlie Jr, the tacit "assoc head coach" from watching film with the QB's or in essence being the extension of the HC during supposedly "voluntary" summer 7x7 drills? Charlie Jr.
I liked this.. It's really good that Gunner does not have to play this year, I know most kids want to play early and think they can play early but the list of Freshmen QB's who had excellent years is pretty slim and it's usually because they have a lot of vets around them. Oliver Luck did not play as a freshman and was good not great as a RS Freshman, but by the time his RS Soph season rolled around he was great. Not a bad start to his Pro Career either, eh!
I'm sure Oliver had a great day watching Andrew's NFL debut. :lol: :lol: (Just teasing, of course. We senior citizens have an overload of accumulated information inside our brains.)
Neal <r>Looks like Davonte’ Neal, the WR out of Scottsdale AZ. is one of the incoming freshmen that is making an impact so far. Look for some early playing time for this kid if he keeps it up. <E></E></r>
That was a good article, thanks Sid. We have some upper classmen at WR who on paper should be good, but so far haven't shown any consistency. John Goodman comes to mind, he's big,he's fast, he's reportedly got great hands and he's an excellent overall athlete. He should be an outstanding college WR, but it just hasn't happened yet...maybe this year will be it for him. Same for TJ Jones, a lot of potential but not much production. Robby Toma seems like a perfect slot reciever but again not a lot of production. So there will be opportunity for those young WR's. The problem with young WR's in college and the pro's is the discipline in running routes. They can quickly make a QB look bad when he throws to where they are supposed to be and they are someplace else.
The passing game will no longer be to put it up where Mike Floyd can outfight the DB for the ball. Everyone is going to have to step up to make up for the loss of MF.